TransGrid is currently planning to build a 500kV transmission line between Wagga, Maragle and Bannaby to bring new electricity generation sources onto the grid, including the expanded Snowy 2.0 scheme.

Adjungbilly landholder Bill Kingwill is chair of a HumeLink Action Group with over 320 members across the length of the corridor. TransGrid altered it's proposed route a few months ago in response to community consultation, however Mr Kingwill says it has taken the burden off one set of landholders and impacted a new group.

In response, landholders have launched a petition opposing the current route and calling for TransGrid to run a double-circuit line adjacent to the existing 01 or 02 line

"The people that are signing it are all the affected landholders of the first proposal, the second alternative that TransGrid came up with, and in total there is round about 900 affected landholders in the whole HumeLink project," Mr Kingwill said.

IN RELATED NEWS:

He argues that expanding on existing easements and utilising public land would have less impact on private landholdings.

Mr Kingwill said the Action Group is hoping to get signatures from every affected landholder and present the petition to NSW Energy and Environment minister Matt Kean.

"Every one of those landholders is still hanging in limbo," he said.

Book Book cattle, sheep and grain farmer Melody McMeekin said that landholders in the Kyeamba region are still waiting for TransGrid to answer their questions that were raised during meetings in April.

"One of the main concerns we had at the meeting was that we're not getting information and we're just left in the dark," she said.

"There's been no consultation, because the only time we hear from them is when we prompt them."

Mrs McMeekin said that property owners with the existing corridor on their properties are "not particularly happy" about the prospect of having two lines, and suggested that HumeLink is built in a way that would allow the old lines to be decommissioned.

In a statement, TransGrid said it is continuing to examine HumeLink route options as it progresses the route refinement process.

"A final route has not yet been decided," a spokesperson said.

"Route option analysis will continue, with a view to releasing a 200m easement corridor later this year and the final 80m alignment (within the 200m corridor) will be announced in mid-2022."

The spokesperson said TransGrid understands that "landowners want certainty," and that consultation will continue with those directly impacted.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: